CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS

Code of Conduct for Members ofTHE ROUNDTABLE ON SUSTAINABLE PALM OIL
It is fundamental to the integrity, credibility and continued progress of the
RSPO that every member supports, promotes and works towards theproduction, procurement and use of Sustainable Palm Oil.
All Ordinary and Affiliate Members must act in good faith towards this objectiveand commit to adhering to the principles set out in this Code.

RSPO Code of Conduct for Members 2022

Endorsed by the RSPO General Assembly GA19, on 1 December 2022 inKuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS
1.

2.

3.

Promotion and Commitment
1 .1

Member organisations will acknowledge their membership of the RSPO, its objectives, Statutesof the RSPO (“the Statutes”) and, the Principles an d Criteria (P&C) and its respective nationalinterpretations and implementation process through informed and explicit endorsement.

1.2

Members will promote and communicate this commitment throughout its own
organisation and to its customers, suppliers, sub-contractors and wider value chains wherenecessary.

1 .3

Membership of the RSPO must be endorsed by a senior representative of the memberorganisation.

1.4

Members must not make claims which imply that the removal of palm oil from a product is apreferable social or environmental sustainability outcome to the use of RSPO certified
sustainable palm oil. Moreover, members shall seek to promote, and not to denigrate the aims
and goals of RSPO, namely the production and use of RSPO certified sustainable palm oil.

Transparency, reporting and claims
2.1

Members will not make any misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the production,procurement or use of sustainable palm oil.

2.2

Members are required to report annually on progress against this Code.

2.3

Members will commit to open and transparent engagement with interested parties, andactively seek resolution of conflict.

Implementation
3 .1

Members to whom the P&C apply will work towards implementation and certification of theP&C.

3.2

In being committed towards the production, procurement and use of Sustainable Palm Oil1,
members to whom the P&C2 do not apply directly shall adopt and implement environmental
and social standards no lower than those set out in the P&C.

3.3

Members are responsible for ensuring that their commitment to the objectives of the RSPO isunderpinned by adequate resources within its organisation.

1Production, procurement and use of Sustainable Palm Oil involves all members of RSPO whether directly or indirectly
involved in the production, procurement, and use of Sustainable Palm Oil.
2Environmental and social standards shall focus on all the environmental and social issues identified in the latest RSPO
P&C.
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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS

4.

5.

3.4

Relevant personnel within member organisations will be provided appropriate informationthat will enable them to work towards the objectives of the RSPO in their work.

3.5

Members to whom the P&C do not directly apply will actively seek to promote sustainablepalm oil and will give support to those members engaged in implementing the RSPO P&C.

3.6

In the required annual communication on progress (see 2.2), existing RSPO members arerequired to specify steps taken last year, specific steps intended for the coming year and forthe long term in the form of a time -bound plan of working towards producing or buying
certified sustainable palm oil, applying any or a combination of the RSPO approved supply
chain mechanism and relevant to the scope of the member's operations (e.g. specifying
volume or percentage targets, or a commitment to above -average proportions of trade orinvestment volumes in comparison to production or demand trends).

3.7

New members are required at the latest in their first annual progress report to specify a timebound plan of working towards producing or buying certified sustainable palm oil, relevant tothe scope of the member's operations.

3.8

Subsequently, members need to report progress against the time-bound plan annually as partof the mandatory progress report.

3.9

Names of members who meet these requirements will be contained in the annual RSPO
publication collating or summarizing progress reports. Members who fail to meet theserequirements will be listed as such in the same publication.

Pricing and incentives
4.1

Members procuring palm oil will integrate implementation and independent verification of theP&C as a positive performance measure when assessing supplier performance.

4 .2

Members will adhere strictly to the RSP O anti -trust guidelines, and refrain from any behaviour
which can be construed as anti -competitive practice.

Breaches of this Code
5 .1

Members will seek to resolve grievances directly with other member organisations orindividuals in a timely fashion, and will not make unsubstantiated allegations of breaches
against other members.

5.2

Breaches of this Code or Statutes by RSPO Members may lead to suspension or terminationfrom the organisation.

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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS

5.3

Prior to taking public action in cases of unresolved allegations of breaches of this Code or theStatutes, members shall report the alleged breaches to the RSPO Secretariat, which will deal
with the alleged breaches in accordance with the RSPO Complaints System.

5.4

The RSPO Complaints and Appeals Panels, through the Complaints System, may conduct aninvestigation against any member whom, in its view may have breached this Code, the Statutesor other key documents relating to RSPO systems and procedures as endorsed by the Board ofGovernors. RSPO Members who are found to have been in breach after due investigation inaccordance to the Complaints System, may be suspended or terminated at the sole discretionof the Complaints and Appeals Panels without further reference to the RSPO Member or Boardof Governors.

5.5

Subject to Clause 5.4 above, the Chief Executive Officer may terminate or suspend themembership of an RSPO Member for breaches which applies to an RSPO Member under thisStatutes or the Code of Conduct including for the non-payment of the requisite membershipfee, provided always that any such termination or suspension shall be in accordance withprocedures to be determined and approved by the Board of Governors from time to time.
Members who are found, after due inquiry, to have breached this Code or the Statutes by theChief Executive Officer, will be terminated or suspended at the sole discretion of the Chief
Executive Officer, without further reference to the RSPO Member or the Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors will be informed after a termination of suspension of membership has
been carried out by the Chief Executive Officer.

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